Lens Stick

[Dennis]

Made a stick (box sort of thing) to hold my extra objective lenses and two eyepieces.

Take a piece of wood (I had soft Maple) not too hard as to not burn up wood bits.

1 1/4" wood bit is fine for RMS objective lens containers.

Eyepiece holes- For my 2 AmScope USB camera adapters which hold eyepieces the 1 1/4" bit is O.K. Otherwise I think a 15/16" bit would have been nice for eyepieces but I didn't have one.

I drilled the holes all the way through (can clean easy) clamping a backer board on while drilling to stop breakout.

I used the Microscope Objective Lens Color Code...... But following the Rainbow colors of ROYGBP I added a orange to do lens between 4X, 5X (Red) and 10X (yellow),
and I kept the microscope lens code of Cobalt Blue and didn't use the purple marker.

I used white paint for the 100X but went out to Staples and got a Sharpie 12 pack for 7 bucks on sale to do the rest of the colors, and as a bonus have a pack of Sharpie markers now.

I think I will urethane the hole insides or maybe not. Just thinking what would be LEAST amt. particulates around to get into things.

I will just cover with a strip of plastic for now. This is only the first incarnation. I might now be somewhere and a thought or two come to me as to how to make a lid or whatever later.

-Dennis

[billbillt]

Hey!... I like this!... I think this is a great idea!....

[mrsonchus]

Very nice, great idea - make it round - like a spinning Chinese snack-tray!
Good work, I love a bit of improvisation - it's just great fun!

[Dennis]

Wow BillBilt!

I didn't think anybody would like it like I do. Cool

My exact dimensions- Of course you could vary, add a bottom, do whatever-

soft maple 2 5/8" wide by 1 5/8" high by 21 3/8" long.

Holes 2" to every center. If I would have had a 15/16" bit would have used for eye pieces perhaps, but I have those adapters so...

I ran a strip of masking tape down the center of the stick to write all the layout marks on. That way when you're done you can just peel it off and have no marks.

The lens containers I got off ebay for a good price. ( a little better than Amazon.com's choice) Seller lists under "MICROSCOPE OBJECTIVE CONTAINERS."

-Dennis

[Dennis]

mrsonchus,

Yea that's one too. I also was thinking could have it slide out from under a desktop.

I like the color codes thing because it helps me learn more that way.

It could really be tightened up size wise. I have the full scale size. Doesn't matter to me because will go across the back of the table out of the way.
-Dennis

[mrsonchus]

Aha - the slide-out from your desk would be really great! Let us know as you make changes to you superb prototype.

p.s. I find the colours very pleasing to the eye too - nice.

[gekko]

A great idea and very nice execution.

[Dennis]

Gave the "Lens Stick" a coat of water based poly urethane.

Stick and move with the brush etc... because even though the Sharpie ink is supposed to be permanent it did start to drag in a spot which I wiped color bleed off with brush.

Gonna give it at least one more coat. The holes is the most important part to coat because then there will be no wood dust and Poly can says "scuff or scratch resistant" so prob. best thing to do.

A Lid could fit over a rabbet around block, or an even simpler "prepared slides style box lid" with hinges. I might just make an aluminum foil lid for the time being but will get around to adding a lid for more dust protection.


Oh I forgot to mention- sand the holes and entire block with 150 grit sandpaper. (That really comes before the Sharpie marker colorings)

-Dennis

[Mintaka]

That's a clever solution. Nicely done!

[Dennis]

The Lens Stick is now in use.

What I am using in the microscope-

A- 6X
B- 10X
C- 20X
D- 40X

The "D" place of my Nikon S scope will be the "Wild card" place. I could shove a 4X or whatever.
40X really is a stretch for me (high!) but I want to try that a little bit for now.

BTW I do not have a 60X. The holes are not "Law" but a general guide.

-Dennis

[mrsonchus]

It's looking even better - nice job!

[vasselle]

Bonjour.
Très belle réalisation pour ranger ces objectifs de microscope.
Merci pour le partage.
Cordialement seb

[Dennis]

Un avantage supplémentaire est que Il m'a aidé à me souviens des codes de couleur de lentille d'objectif, sauf que maintenant je dois aussi un microscope à contraste de phase et les couleurs sur ceux qui sont différents. Mais je garde ceux qui microscope.

(Just used the online translator. I do not speak French.)

-Dennis